Revolving box for cotton-presses.



nu. 684,279. Patented oct. a, 190|. c. E. MALLETT.

BEVDLVING BOX FDR BUTTON PRESSES.

(Applieation Bled Oct. 12, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Shui I.

(No Model.)

No. 684,279. Patented not. a, 190|. c. E. MALLETT.

BEVULVING BOX FOB CDTTUN PRESSES.

(Application led Oct. 14'3,` 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

N0. 684,279. 'Pafen'ldct 8, l90l. C. E. MALLETT.

HEVDLVING BOX FOR COTTON PRESSES.

(Appucmmi med oec. 12, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

No. 684,279. Patented Oct. 8, |9DI. C. E. MALLETT.

REVOLVING BOX FUR BUTTON PRESSES.

(Application filed Oct. 12, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

'(no Model.)

Tn: v0mm mms co, worumnn. wAsmNs-ron. me.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MALLETT, OF NEW YORK,N. Y., ASSGNOR TO THE MALLETT COTTONGNNERS COMPRESS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

REVOLVING BOX FOR COTTON-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 684,279, dated October8, 1901.

Application filed October 12, 1900. Serial No. 32.826. (No model.)

To all whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MALLETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in 'Revolving Boxes for Cotton-Presses, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in io cotton-presses, andparticularly to a revolving box for presses of the kind in which thecotton is packed into boxes and then compressed, the operations ofpacking and compressing being eected alternately. By providing aplurality7 of boxese-say two- With means for bringing them alternatelyand in rotation into cooperative relation with the packing andcompressing means I am enabled to eect a large increase in output of the2o press with a considerable economy in time and to dispense with bulkyaccumulating devices for accumulating the cotton from a continuoussource of supply, such as gins. Even With such accumulating devices itis difficult with the single box to keep a press of proper size forproducing the standard bale up to the capacity of the usual gin plant;but by means of my improved box-shifting mechanism the capacity of thepress is sufficiently increased 3o to enable it to continuously absorbthe product of the gins, the operation of packing the cotton from thegins into one box proceeding concurrently With the compression and tyingoperations at the other box. Ihave herein shown as exemplifying myinvention its application to a press of the form disclosed in my PatentNo. 661,349, dated November 6, 1900, wherein the cotton from the gins isirst compressed into a cohesive bat, which isthen folded by feedingmeans between a platen and a reciprocating plunger, the plunger actingalternately with the feeding means to press the cotton into a box andthe platen being pressed back by the 4 5 pressure of the cotton. As insaid application, the cotton is folded by gravity and is retained inplace by finger-frames operating after each stroke of the plunger. Inthe present application I have shown only sufficient 5o of these variousmeans to enable the full illustration of my present invention, whichrelates to means for removing the box from the packing devices abovereferred to as soon as it is full and bringing it opposite a compressionmeans which in this case is separate from the normal pressure-applyingmeans, and not, as in above application, identical therewith.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectional plan viewof a cotton-press 6o provided with myinvention. Figs. 1 and 1b aredetails thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is atransversesection on theline as in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of theparts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a 65 modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a frame composed oflongitudinal bars 1, preferably horizontal, and end frames or head andfoot standards 2 2. A plunger 7o 3 is arranged to slide on suitableguides-say bars l-and is operated by links 4. and cranks 5 from the mainshaft 6, which is connected by gearing 7 7 7" and clutch 10 to thedriving-shaft 1l. The cotton bat or web passes 75 from suitable batforming and feeding means through feed-rolls 12, which operate to feedthe bat in folds in front of the plunger, this mechanism being fullydescribed in my other application above referred to, but being not 8oherein shown in detail, as it forms sgecilically no part of my presentinvention.

Mounted on trunnion-shafts 13, preferably horizontal, journaled inbearings or supports 14: on frame-bars 1, is a rotative frame or car- 85rier 15, which carries a plurality of boxes 16 to receive the cotton,there being t-Wo such boxes here shown. The end walls of these boxes canberigid With rotative frame or carrier 15; but the side Walls 16, whichare 9o longer and are normally at top and bottom of the box, are hingedor pivoted to the frame 15, as shown at 17, so that they can be openedoutwardly, to permit the compressed bale to be tied. When said hingedsides are closed, they can be locked by sliding bolts 2O engaging withhasps 21 on cross-frames 22 of the boxes. V'Vithin the boxes 16 travelthe platens 18, guided by lugs 19 on ends thereof sliding in guideways23 in the ends of the roc boxes. The platens 18 are attached,respectively, to the head of a cylinder S and to aV piston or plunger 9working within said cylinder, the piston 9 and cylinder 8 being locatedwithin the frame 15, which is hollow, but not in contact with suchframe. XVhen either platen 18 is at the end ofthe box nearest the axisof rotation of the revolving frame 1, its back rests against a shoulder,ledge, 0r v support 15a, formed on said frame on each side, so as -togive a rigid support. Means are provided for applying pressure withinthe cylinder 8. For example, a pipe 24, leading from a source offluid-pressure, connects through rotative coupling 25 with a bore orduct 26 through one of the trunnions,'from which it passes by rotativecoupling 27, ilexi- -ble hose 28, and pipe 29 to the interior ofcylinder 8. The source of `fluidpressure is such as vto always maintaina definite uniform pressure Within the cylinder when the press is inoperation, while allowing either the cylinder or the piston to movebackward under the pressure of the cotton as it is being packed, or tomove forward again lwhen such pressure is removed.

Sliding frames or combs 31 are adapted to work in and out of the box asthe cotton is being packed therein, so as to retain the cottou while theplunger 3 is removed from same, it being understood that said plungerhas to enter the box sufficiently at each stroke to relieve the pressurefrom these linger-frames. The operation of these devices issubstantially as specified in the application above referred to, beingeffected through links 3l, 31h, and levers 39 from cams on the mainshaft, one of which is shown at 33a; but in this case the support forthe said fingerframes is'not mounted as a part of the box, but isseparate therefrom, so as to permit of its being withdrawn from the boxto be swung over on its trunnions. To this end I support the nger-frames31 on a frame 32, supported on frame-bars l byshoulders 33 on saidframes 32 engaging over said bars l, so that frames 32 can slidelongitudinally and embrace the ends of the box which is in linetherewith or can be withdrawn from the box. This movement of frame 32 iseffected by toggle-levers 34, pivoted at one end to head-block 2 and atthe other end to said frame and having a handle 35 for the same and arock-shaft 34a connecting the toggle-levers on opposite sides of themachine. The finger-frames 3l are detachably connected at 38 to theoperating devices, consisting of levers 39 and 40, ope rated by cams onthe main shaft 6, as described and shown in the patent above referredto, these devices forming no part of my present invention.

The pressure-plate 42 on the plunger 3 is detachahly secured or lockedto said plunger by hooks or hails 43 on the plunger engaging over lugs44, these lugs sliding in the guide. ways 23 in the ends of the box whenthe plunger is fully advanced at each end of the pres-l sure-plate.Similar hooks or bails 45 on the ends of each box enable thepressure-plate to be secured or locked to the box, so 'that by throwingoff the pl linger-hooks 43 and engag- 'Y ing the box-hooks 45 thepressure-plate may be-detached from the plunger and attached Y Y' to thebox and will then serve to hold the cotton in place in thegbox while thebox is swinging around on the trunnions.

The reversal of the rotating frame or car-V rier is effected by gearingconsisting of a gear 47 on one of the trunnions thereof engaged byapinion 48 driven from the main driving- Y pulley 49 throughfriction-clutch connection Y 50 and gears 5l 51'. As the said framecomes around to proper position it is stopped and Y Y locked by throwingoff the clutch and inserting a peg 52 through one of two holes 53 inYgear 47 and into a hole 54 in the frame or" end of the press, it comesopposite a compres-V sion plunger or platen 57, attached to the heads ofcylinders 58, Whose pistons 59 are attached to the foot-frame 2. Asupply-pipe 60 admits duid-pressure to cylinders 48, so as to drive theplaten 57 into the box.

Dogs 61 are arranged at the inner corners of each box to retain'theplaten 18 in inner- 35 99VV 'Y most position when said dogs are thrownin'. Y'

When the press is started in operation, both boxes are empty, and thedogs 6l are therefore thrown in back of the platen in the rear box toafford a support for the cylinder and piston means 8 9, connecting thetwo inside platens. inder 8 the platen in the front boxthat is, the onenearest the plunger-is forced forward until it reaches the front of thebox a littleV back of the fingers. This forward movement of the platenis effected by forward movef ,c

11oVY ment of the cylinder 8 or of the piston 9, aecording to which ofthese parts is presen-ted toward the plunger 3, the other of such partsY Y Then on admitting pressure to cyl- Y IOS,Y i'

bein g at this time held from back movement,

so as to act as an abutment by the dogs 61.V x15;

The usual requirements as to bagging hav-V ing been attended to, thepress is started, and

the feeding means and packing-plunger op- Y jr'j Y erate to pack thefront box full of'cotton in compact layers. the packing and feedingmeans are sto'pped for a moment by clutch 10. VThe tie-plate is This boxhaving been lled,` Y f Y Y 12071;'i

uncoupled from plunger 3 and hooked to the'V box 16. withdraw frame 32from the front box. 61 are released, and the box-rotating mechanism isset inaction by clutch 50, so as to carryY Y the filled box to the rear,at the same timeY bringing the other box to the front ready for filling.The carrier 15 is stopped by uncoupling its clutch and inserting the peg52. The operator then unhooks the outer platen from Y the empty box andhooks it to the plunger, throws handle 35 back to push frame 32 over theend of the empty box 42, and then clutch The handle 35 is thrown voverto` DogsY Y .Y 12,5{1' f l() is thrown in again to start the packing ofthe new box. At the same time another operator is attending to thecompression at the other end of the press by admitting pressure tocylinders 58, so as to force the outer platen of the filled box inward,and then opening the hinged sides I6a of the box and tying up thecompressed bale in the usual manner, the operations of packing at thefront and compressing and tying at the rear box taking placeconcurrently, and the above-described operations being repeated inrotation as each front box is filled, except that dogs 61 are not usedagain as long as the press is in regular operation.

It will be noted that in the above-described construction the pressuresof the packingplunger and ofthe compressing means are exertedsubstantially in alinement, so that there is no tendency of these twopressures acting simultaneously to twist the frame, the said pressuresbeing received directly by the trunnions or axis of the revolvingcarrier, which is located between the packing and the compressing means,and in case there is an excess of pressure one way or the other it istransmitted to the trunnions and the frame in the direction of greateststrength of the machine-namely,longitudinally of the frame of themachine. W'hile desirable,however, this feature may be departed from;but in any case I desire to make the shaft of the revolving carrierhorizontal, so as to enable the cotton-bat to be folded by gravity, asabove described, and to be packed into the box by a horizontally-actingplunger.

In Fig. 4 I show as an example a modification with the trunnionshorizontal, but extending longitudinally of the machine, so that thecarrier moves transversely of the machine. The compressing-cylinders 58are in this case off at one side, supported by an extension of the rearhead-frame 2' and the pressure exerted upon the front platen, when thecompress is acting, being taken by a supplementary front head 2a. Thepiston 9 for the packing-cylinder S is supported directly on the rearhead-frame 2. In other respects the construction will be the same as inFigs. l and 2.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim asneviT therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a cotton-press, the combination with the feeding means,packing-plunger and compression-plunger, and means for operating saidparts, of a device carrying boxes and movable to bring such boxesalternately in cooperative relation with the two plun gers aforesaid andpressure-plates for each box with means for locking same to thepacking-plunger, and means for locking said pressureplates to the boxes.

2. In a cotton-press, the combination with the feeding means',of thepacking-plunger and compression -plunger reciprocating in substantialalinement and means for operating said parts, a device carrying boxesand movable to bring such boxes alternately in coperative relation withthetwo plungers aforesaid, platens mounted inside the boxes and meansmounted on said carrying device for applying pressure to such platenswhen coperating with the packing-plunger.

3. In a cotton-press, the combination with the feeding means,of thepacking-plunger and compression -plunger reciprocating in substantialalinement and means for operating said parts, a carrier, carrying boxesand movable to bring such boxes alternately in coperative relation withthe two plungers aforesaid, platens mounted inside the boxes andacylinder and piston device mounted on the carrier for applying pressureto such platens when cooperating with the packing-plunger.

4:. In a cotton-press the combination with the feeding means,of thepacking-plunger and compressionplunger, reciprocating in substantialalinement, and means for operating said parts, a carrier, carrying aplurality of boxes and adapted to bring same in rotation in cooperativerelation with the packing and compressing plungers, and a cylinder andpiston device, supported by said carrier with platens mountedrespectively on the cylinder and the piston, and traveling within theboxes.

5. In a cotton-press, the combination with the packing-plum ger, theplatens, and a rotating carrier for said platens, wherein the platensare longitudinally movable, of means for supporting said platens againstthe action of the plunger, comprising dogs which are supported on therotating carrier and are adapted to engage with the platens topositively hold the platens from back movement, said dogs being movableout of such engagement so as to be thrown out of action.

6. In a cotton-press, the combination with the feeding and packingmeans, ofa box movable into and out of coperativerelation with suchfeeding and packing means, retaininglinger frames for retaining thecotton in the box and a support for same movable into and out ofengaging relation with the box.

CHARLES E. MALLETT.

IVitnesses:

R. P. KNIGHT, HARRY E. KNIGHT,

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